Golf simulator impact screens

Caring for your impact screen

A good screen lasts for years of full swings. Most of that comes down to how it hangs: the space behind it, how far you hit from it, and how much give you leave in the tension. Get those three right and the screen stays quiet, the ball comes back gently and the image stays flat.

Leave about a foot behind it

The screen should hang off the wall, not against it. About 1 ft of open space behind the screen lets it take the impact and slow the ball instead of passing the hit straight into the wall. Keep that space clear of anything hard, like shelving, pipes or a framed wall edge. If the wall behind is bare drywall or block, padding it is cheap insurance on a mishit. Our room measuring guide walks through the full depth.

Hit from 10 to 12 feet

Put the ball 10 to 12 ft from the screen. Closer than 10 ft and bounceback becomes the thing you notice most, because the ball reaches the screen faster and comes back with more of its energy. If your room forces you closer, the triple layer screen and a little more give in the tension help.

Tension: flat, but with give

The goal is a screen that looks flat with no ripples in the image, but still gives when you press the middle. A screen that is drum tight is louder, sends the ball back harder and puts more stress on the stitching and attachment points every shot. A screen that is too loose shows wrinkles in the picture and lets the ball drop straight down.

• Set the top first. The top edge is the border of every image you project, so keep it straight and even.
• Then the sides. Pull evenly left and right so the weave runs square.
• Leave the bottom for last. The bottom edge is where you tune bounceback and sound.

Taming bounceback

Some bounceback is good. A ball that comes back a few feet to your mat beats one that rolls to the corner every shot. Our SwingBay bungee system is tuned so the ball comes back about five feet. If yours is coming back too hard:

• Loosen the bottom edge before anything else. That is where the most energy comes back from.
• On a bungee frame, use longer bungees along the bottom row, or skip every other loop along the bottom so that edge can swing.
• On a cable bottom, like the Built-In Screen Kit, back the turnbuckles off a little at a time and hit a few balls between adjustments.
• Check your distance. Under 10 ft from the ball is the most common cause.
• Consider the triple layer screen. The center layer soaks up more of each hit.

Cutting impact sound

Impact sound comes from three places: the screen itself, the frame or wall behind it, and anything rattling nearby. Give in the tension does most of the work, since a drum tight screen pops. The triple layer screen is quieter by design. Make sure the ball never reaches the wall through the screen, which is what the foot of space behind it is for, and tighten any loose frame joints or bungee hooks that click on impact.

Loosening tricks that work

• Loosen in small steps and test between each one. A quarter turn on a turnbuckle or one bungee loop at a time is plenty.
• Keep the top tight and work on the bottom corners. You keep a straight image edge and still get the give where the ball lands.
• If the image wrinkles after loosening, you went too far. Bring the sides back up evenly rather than re-tightening the bottom.
• A new screen relaxes over its first weeks of use. Check the tension after the first few sessions and again after a month.

Getting the longest life out of it

• Hit balls in good condition. Cut, scuffed or dirty balls mark and wear the surface faster.
• Keep the hitting area clean so turf grit and debris are not carried into the screen.
• Check the attachment points now and then, and replace tired bungees before they let one corner sag.
• Clean with a soft brush, or a damp cloth and mild soap, and let it dry fully before you project on it. Skip solvents and harsh cleaners.
• In a garage, keep the screen dry. If it gets damp, let it dry hanging under light tension.

When to replace it

Replace the screen when you see holes, fraying in the impact zone, or stitching pulling away at the edges. A worn screen sends the ball back harder and can let one through. Our ROS impact screen drops into most bungee and loop frames, and SwingBay owners can ask us for a replacement screen.

Planning the rest of the room

Screens sit inside a bigger plan. See every screen and enclosure, size your projector with the projector throw calculator, or build the whole room piece by piece in the Sim Builder. For the full picture, start at Sim room buildout.